Grand Challenges in Social Work

Grand Challenges in Social Work
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Grand Challenges in Social Work
Several grand challenges for social work have been identified. Below is an annotated bibliography focusing on scholarly resources for three of the twelve grand challenges:
Close the Health Gap
Roberson, J. (2019). Teachinh Note- Closing the Health Gap and Social Work Education. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(1), 188-193. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2018.1498416
Summary
This article focuses on what social work educators can do to ensure that the Close the Health Gap is addressed in the classroom to ensure that social work students become competent in addressing this particular challenge. Roberson (2019) suggests that the content of this challenge can be integrated into existing social work classes in the form of an assignment. He further notes that there is limited room in the curriculum to incorporate the grand challenges and as such, social educators have to be intentional and look for ways to incorporate the grand challenges in social work courses. He suggests that educators should give students assignments whereby students identify specific social determinants of health and examine how these determinants influence health inequities or how policy influences the determinants. This all depends on the class the student is taking. The students should then present their findings in a 20-minutes presentation and include possible solutions to address the social determinants and health inequities based on what other countries have done. The author concludes that this approach would improve competency in addressing health inequities.
Evaluation
The author of this article is an educator with experience in the field of education and as such, understands how educators can influence competency in various social work areas. The article is published in a peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Social Work Education) that focuses on education in the field of social work. As a peer-reviewed journal, the research published is of high quality. Thus, the article is a reliable journal article with an abstract, introduction, body, and conclusion sections. The content of the article is also supported with sufficient sources which are appropriately cited and a reference list provided in case readers want to confirm some of the claims.
Reflection
This source has made it clear to me that for social workers to address health inequities, they need to have an educational foundation that gives them the competencies necessary in the field. I now understand that for this challenge to be addressed there needs to be a holistic approach that begins with intentional education to prepare students who are venturing into the social work practice. I understand the role that educators play in addressing the grand challenges and this information will be crucial in my upcoming assignment as well as in my social work practice.
Gomez, A., Downey, M., Carpenter, E., Leedham, U., Begun, S., Craddock, J., et al. (2020). Advancing Reproductive Justice to Close the Health Gap: A Call to Action for Social Work. Social Work, 65(4), 358-367. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swaa034
Summary
This is a commentary article calling social workers to action by not only highlighting what they can do to close the health gap but also exposing how social workers have been complicit in the reproductive health injustices. In particular, the article reveals that social workers have become complicit in advancing reproductive injustice because they participate in the criminalization of pregnant women. The authors give an example of how social workers participate in criminalization by reporting their pregnant clients for drug use and self-managed abortions to the child welfare system or law enforcement. This further widens that health gap because such clients would become averse to seeking health care for fear of being reported. However, the authors posit that social workers can advance reproductive justice and help close the health gap through scholarship and research, policy advocacy, and practice. Social workers can co-create knowledge by involving communities in their research to provide knowledge about health inequities and potential solutions. They can also advocate for policies that promote reproductive justice and ensure that their practice does not promote or ignore reproductive injustices.
Evaluation
This article was published in the social work journal, which is a reputable journal in the field of social work. The article was co-authored by professionals with experience working in the field of social work in higher learning institutions. The findings in the article are supported by quality sources, thus making it a high-quality source of research. In this sense, the article is similar to the article in the previous section because, in addition to citing quality sources, they are both published in reputable journals and are authored by experts in the social work field.
Reflection
I have learned from this article that closing the health gap will require a more specific approach that involves looking at specific health injustices. It is through addressing these specific injustices, such as those in reproductive health, that we can be able to close the health gap. I have learned that I can take a narrower approach and still contribute significantly to addressing the grand challenges. This article will be significant in my assignment because it provides recommendations on how social workers can close the health gap by advancing reproductive justice.
Ashcroft, R., Lam, S., Kourgiantakis, T., Begun, S., Nelson, M., Adamson, K., et al. (2021). Preparing Social Workers to Address Health Inequities Emerging during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Building Capacity for Health Policy: A Scoping Review Protocol. BMJ Open, 11(11). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053959
Summary
This article investigated health inequities and how the COVID-19 pandemic brought them to the surface. It also investigated the role of social workers in addressing these inequities to close the health gap. The article reveals that the high rates of COVID-19 among minority communities exposed the severity of health inequities not only in the US but also in other parts of the world. It also reveals that to recover from COVID-19, policies that address health inequities are needed. This would facilitate equitable recovery for all. The articles indicate that social work has a role to play in promoting equitable recovery and addressing health inequities. Their role involves the use of policy to influence the factors that contribute to health inequities. The authors reveal that to do this, social workers need to be empowered and prepared to use policy advocacy as a tool in closing the health gap, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evaluation
This article is a scoping review and as such, explores what has been covered in the existing literature to identify what social workers can do to close the health gap. As such, it provides useful information because it synthesizes evidence from a body of literature. A majority of the authors of this article work in the faculty of social work in a higher learning institution and as such, are experts in the field of social work. They know what to look for in the literature and how to identify relevant studies on the topic of interest. This makes the article reliable. In addition, the article is published in a renowned, peer-reviewed journal that published medical research from all disciplines.
Reflection
This article has provided me with significant insights into how a pandemic can exacerbate health inequities by bringing them to the surface and what social workers can do to address health inequities in the face of a pandemic. It has also allowed me to look at health inequities from a pandemic perspective, which is lacking in other articles. It is such a timely and relevant source of evidence because we are still recovering from the pandemic. The insights from this article will be valuable to my upcoming assignment because it highlights what can be done to address health inequities and facilitate recovery from the pandemic from a perspective of social work.
Advance Long and Productive Lives
Gonzales, E., Greenfield, J., Halvorsen, C., James, J., Matz, C., Morrow-Howell, N., et al. (2021, January). Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenge to Advance Long, Healthy, and Productive Lives. (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Policy Brief No. 13). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Welfare.
Summary
This paper provides policy recommendations from a social work perspective that can be used to advance long, healthy, and productive lives. The authors note that while older, healthy adults can lead productive lives because of their vast experience and skills, they are hindered from doing so because of a lack of support, age discrimination, ageism, and lack of volunteer opportunities. However, this can be changed by having the right policies in place. The authors recommend the expansion of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the passing of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, and the passing of inclusive workplace policies to end age discrimination and ageism. They also recommend that the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act and FAMILY Act of 2020 should be passed to provide financial support to caregivers. Other recommendations involve policies that promote rigorous research to strengthen job training programs for older adults from low-income backgrounds as well as policies that support volunteerism for older adults.
Evaluation
This paper is a policy brief and it provides a summary of the potential policies that can be put in place to advance long and productive lives. It synthesizes existing research findings from scientific research and disseminates them simply and concisely, thus allowing different stakeholders to make informed decisions on how to address the grand challenge of advancing long and productive lives. It uses sources that are not older than 10 years to provide current, evidence-based research for social work practice.
Reflection
This paper has exposed me to the potential policy solutions that can be applied to advance long and productive lives. Some of these policies are already in play and all they need is to be expanded to be more inclusive. This shows me that the solutions needed are within arm’s reach and all we need is to advocate for them and amplify their importance. The paper will be a significant source of information for my upcoming assignment because it provides evidence-based solutions based on existing research to solve some of the issues that hinder older people from leading productive lives.
LaBarre, C. (2021). Research, Practice, and Policy Strategies to Advance Long and Productive Lives. Health and Social Work, 6(1), 5-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlaa040
Summary
This article explores how professionals in social work can advance long and productive lives by creating policies and programs that ensure every adult at any given stage of life can engage in education and civic opportunities. The author posits that social workers can meet the grand challenge to advance long and productive lives because they have the skill set in research, policy, and practice. Thus, they have the potential to engage in policy and practice strategies that prevent age discrimination. The author reveals that from a research domain, social work professionals can expand on what is known about this challenge and also fill the existing research gaps. Further, from a policy domain, social work profe...